CISAR: CryoSat land and sea ice studies in the Arctic
The project will exploit data from CryoSat-2 and RADARSAT-2 for sea ice studies in the Arctic.
Objectives
Primary objective:
Develop methodology for use of CryoSat radar altimeter data in combination with RADARSAT-2 SAR data in Arctic land and sea ice studies and education of young scientists
Secondary objectives:
(1) Estimate and analyse inter-satellite biases between CryoSat and Envisat altimeter measurements to extend elevation time series over Greenland ice sheet
(2) Investigate sea ice signals from radar altimeter data in combination with SAR data to classify ice types and improve the retrieval of ice thickness from CryoSat data
(3) Perform training and education of students and young scientists in application of CryoSat and RADARSAT-2 data for studies of land and sea ice
Project Summary
CISAR will develope methodology for use of CryoSat-2 radar altimeter data in combination with RADARSAT-2 SAR data in Arctic land and sea ice studies and education of young scientists.
CryoSat-2 satellite mission, launched in April 2010, is aimed to extend the coverage of conventional pulse-limited altimeters and, in particular, to improve the measurement of sea ice thickness and freeboard. At the same time problems associated with uncertainties of snow loading, penetration of radar altimeter echo in snow and discrimination of return echoes from different types of the surface will remain. Therefore CryoSat-2 radar altimeter echo shape will be investigated using SAR images as well as in situ and aircraft observations from field experiments in order to classify ice types and validate the algorithms for freeboard and ice thickness retrieval. This work wis part of a larger international validation activity planned and implemented by the CryoSat-2 CalVal Team.
